jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Do any of you know anything about photogrammetry? I've been watching shows about exploring tombs from ancient Egypt, and they used that technique with DSLRs and software. From what I've seen online, it involves complicated, expensive equipment.

maxlieberman Loc: 19027

I did that in the service.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

With all due respect I am guessing Jerry wanted more information than you did that in the service. Perhaps more exactly what it is, how it works, and so on. You know, details. Now that you mention it, I am now curious too as I have never heard of it before.

Dennis

maxlieberman Loc: 19027

It means measuring from photographs. We made photo maps, determined the sizes of objects, the heights of objects, the distances between points, etc.

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Dictionary.com...

photogrammetry: noun
the process of making surveys and maps through the use of photographs, especially aerial photographs.

I guess the equipment could be really expensive, particularly if you buy an airplane. I guess Google spends a ton on it...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

The process I've seen on TV several times involves taking thousands of pictures of an object from all different angles. The software then converts them into a 3-D picture that can be rotated and examined from all sides. I'd rather not have to buy a plane.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I found this online - https://scholarslab.lib.virginia.edu/blog/documentation-photogrammetry/

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I've been having fun learning to be an aerial photographer. That means I bought a $400 DJI drone at Costco and got the license. One of the things drones can do is mapping. Software exists that will guide the drone, shoot the many photos and then accurately stitch them together.

One company's software moves the files to their servers where there is enough computer power to do it well and then returns the "map" to you.

https://www.mapsmadeeasy.com/

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I am not trying to battle anyone here. Perhaps you did not notice my smiley face. Your information and or that from Max Lieberman would have cleared things up nicely. How nice to NOT have to look everything up on Google.

Have a great day.

Dennis

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

For what it's worth, I wasn't starting a battle. I too wondered what it was and looked it up and posted it. Sorry if you thought I was looking for a battle, I wasn't, just making it clear I didn't know either, and looked it up on dictionary.com.

You have a great day as well.

Alphabravo2020

I did a bit of photogrammetry as an engineering intern. Aerial photos are used to create topographic maps. As long as there is sufficient overlap between two photographs, they act as a kind of stereo pair that you can get 3d information from. Setting up the photo pairs was a labor intensive task that was done by the boss.

These days photogrammetry is mostly automated. I have used or seen DSLRs and FARO scanners generate models of engineering structures or archaeological sites. As long as there is sufficient overlap between a stack of photos a computer can generate a 3D model pretty much automatically. There is some art to taking photographs in a way that off-the-shelf software can easily process.

At this point photogrammetry technology is available on a smartphone along with some type of knock-off Lidar. I've even seen gaming consoles hacked to produce 3D models. These types of models aren't dimensionally calibrated. For that you would still need a DSLR or purpose built scanner where you can account for all the irregularities in the lens. At some point I suppose it won't make a difference.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I appreciate your comment. I never considered you as an antagonist. Nobody else either. I was just pointing out one person did the work and could have easily said what it entailed.

All is good. Thanks.

Dennis

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

Just get one that can land in the Ashokan Reservoir. At least it's a short drive. :) :)

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Of course. : )

spencehg1

Check out https://sketchfab.com/FOFSedona
We do photogrammetric 3D models of archaeological sites in the Sedona Arizona forest areas. I think this is what you are talking about. The process does not require "special" photo equipment but does require specific software. There are some very usable free alternatives but as a non profit volunteer organization use the basic versions of commercial software Agisoft Metashape. There is definitely a learning curve to both the photo acquisition and model processing but you will find it not too complicated once you start.
Although there are many YouTube training videos, check out Cultural Heritage Imagery (CHI) website. They have some very good basic tutorials on both acquisition and processing.

We are currently doing very big 3D projects of both historic and pre-historic sites in the Coconino Forest. message me if you would like more details.